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Tyler, Texas (KETK) — The Tyler Police Department has connected two men arrested for allegedly burglarizing a car to 35 additional crimes in East Texas.

Jonathan Burkett, 23, of Tyler and Jeremy Junkins, 20, of Whitehouse, were arrested January 14, after police stopped them in an SUV near the scene of the initial crime.

Around 3:10 a.m., Tuesday morning, officials responded to the 9400 block of Tipperary Drive in Tyler on reports of an auto burglary. Upon arrival, officers learned from the homeowner there was a car parked in the driveway that was burglarized. A garage door opener from that car was used to open the victim’s garage where an SUV was located. The suspects burglarized the SUV and left the scene.

Authorities stopped a black SUV leaving the area and discovered property from the victim on Tipperary Drive in the vehicle along with several other items of property stolen from other victims.

After performing a search of the suspect's car, investigators found numerous stolen items worth thousands of dollars leading officials to connect the two to 35 additional automobile burglaries.

18 of those crimes were committed in Tyler 14 in Smith County and three in Kilgore.

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